Posted by Bill Bean on January 22, 2012 at 1:34 AM
I'm planning a trip in the spring and need to acquire detailed maps of the Columbia Gorge, Olympic National Park, and the Palouse. Where do you guys go to get good maps?
Posted by Karl Buiter on January 22, 2012 at 2:06 AM
There are the usual sources - USGS Topos, Google Earth, even NASA's World Wind (a much better "Google Earth" for the topos it scales and projects).
I might suggest checking out local 4x4 or hiking clubs in the area. They can give you direct experience and current conditions; and might even tell you about places that are not well known outside the region. I also sometimes find good YouTubes of popular routes to study.
Trails.com and related sites are also good for learning access routes.
Posted by Jack Garrett on January 22, 2012 at 3:55 PM
For Palouse, other than a road map, you don't need anything else! We based ourselves out of Colfax and just drove all the roads in the area. Great spots between Colfax and Pullman...ask the locals where the big barns are. You ABSOLUTELY need a sunset and a sunrise from Steptoe Butte. Google Chip Phillips photography..he is the master of the Palouse. You can get some good ideas for comps from his site. Also look at Photo Cascadia...Chip is part of a six member team and they all have shots of the gorge and Palouse.
Posted by David Kingham on January 22, 2012 at 6:38 PM
I would highly recommend this book http://www.amazon.com/Photographing-Oregon-Phototripsusa-Greg-Vaughn/dp/091618918X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327275295&sr=8-1
Posted by Mary Haselow on January 24, 2012 at 8:45 AM
I recently discovered a really neat map tool created by Stephen Trainor. It would supplement your physical maps. Go to: http://stephentrainor.com/tools. It is called the Photographers Ephemeris. It is a computer program connected to google maps that shows you exactly where sun/moon rise and set is each day of the year. You can see on the map exactly where the sun will hit at sunrise on any day. Great for planning your trip and where you might want to position yourself for the best shot.
Check it out. It's free.
Posted by Fred Stearns on January 25, 2012 at 6:22 PM
For details about the area, I use the National Geographic rails Illustrated maps. They are not free, but I think that they are worth the price.
Discussion
5 repliesThere are the usual sources - USGS Topos, Google Earth, even NASA's World Wind (a much better "Google Earth" for the topos it scales and projects).
I might suggest checking out local 4x4 or hiking clubs in the area. They can give you direct experience and current conditions; and might even tell you about places that are not well known outside the region. I also sometimes find good YouTubes of popular routes to study.
Trails.com and related sites are also good for learning access routes.
There maps are not detailed but it gives very good information. Palouse is easy, just find steptoe here http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=216554705655345624614.0004887a618ef970a3bec&ie=UTF8&ll=47.032402,-117.297163&spn=0.061133,0.1266&t=m&z=14&vpsrc=6&iwloc=0004887e7cab2bc1ee006 and drive around, don't forget Palouse Falls while you're in the 'area', it's not as close as you may think though
Check it out. It's free.